The Centre for Counter Fraud Studies is a specialist research operation designed to sit within the University of Portsmouth’s Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, and founded to accommodate the growing interest in counter fraud that has occurred within the Institute over the last decade or so.
In essence, the operation aims to provide a clear focus for research, knowledge transfer and educational provision to the counter fraud community.
Dr Mark Button – reader in criminology at the University’s Institute for Criminal Justice Studies and newly-appointed director of the Centre for Counter Fraud Studies – told SMT Online: “Counter fraud is a huge problem for the British economy, resulting in losses of up to GB pound 72 million every year in both the public and private sectors. As things stand, the UK isn’t best placed to resist and tackle fraud. We firmly believe the Centre for Counter Fraud Studies will help turn that situation around.”
The Centre for Counter Fraud Studies is supported by many of the most senior counter fraud specialists working in the UK. Its role is to collate and organise the widest possible range of information, research, publications and data about the nature and extent of fraud and corruption, and the solutions which have been – and are being – applied. This information will now be available to those working in counter fraud and corruption.
Underestimated, undervalued, under researched
“The problem of fraud is underestimated, undervalued and under researched,” continued Button. “There’s much that can be done to tackle the problem, and central to that is enhancing our knowledge of the issues involved and what works in reducing the prevalence of fraud and corruption.”
The Centre will also offer research services where better quality information is needed by counter fraud professionals, provide an independent assessment of the effectiveness of arrangements to counter fraud and corruption and support those working in the area by providing the latest and best quality information available.
Adding to Button’s comments, Jim Gee – chairman of the new Centre and former chief executive at the NHS Counter Fraud Service – explained: “Fraud is a pernicious problem which undermines reputations and diverts resources from where they are most needed. The Centre for Counter Fraud Studies can help us all to know more about the problem, and thus assist us greatly in selecting the right solution.”
Gee explained: “We’re in the middle of a recession where fraud concerning sub-prime mortgages was a major cause, and in the throes of a political crisis where it’s clear that the public expect higher standards of integrity. There can be no doubt that the Centre for Counter Fraud Studies is an idea whose time has come.”
Making the UK a hard target for fraudsters
Speakers at the conference – which ran under the banner ‘Fraud after The Credit Crunch: to apply the right solution we need to know more about the problem’ – included MPs Bruce George (who also chaired the event) and Frank Field, detective chief superintendent Steve Head of the City of London Police and Maureen Lewis, senior advisor to the World Bank’s chief economist.
Following some interesting and informative opening remarks courtesy of Professor Steve Savage – director of the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Portsmouth – it was then the turn of Bernard Herdan (the newly-appointed chief executive of the National Fraud Authority) to say a few words on how the UK can make itself the hardest target for fraudsters to aim at.
For her part, Lewis – the former chief economist of the World Bank’s Human Development Network – skilfully examined the human benefits of tackling fraud and corruption. Following luncheon in Dining Room A, Emily Heard – a partner at Bevan Brittan – ran the rule over harder hitting sanctions for fraudsters, while David Shepherd and Ian Tapping examined the human cost of fraud in terms of the victims’ perspective.
Fittingly, Dr Button closed the day’s proceedings with an overview of the Centre for Counter Fraud Studies and how knowledge might be used to overpower the fraudsters.
